Suture training device

Abstract

A suture training device includes a three-dimensional frame defining an interior area. The interior area is accessible through the frame and one or more artificial vessels are secured within the interior area. The artificial vessels have separated edges to be sutured together and the opposed ends of the artificial vessels are secured to the frame in different regions that are out of axial alignment. When more than one artificial vessel is employed in the training device, they are disposed at different angles relative to each other within the frame. In a preferred arrangement the training aid is retained within an interior compartment of a housing that has a passage through a wall thereof to permit access to the training device from a location outside of the housing.

1 . A suture training device including a three-dimensional frame defining a three-dimensional interior area, said interior area being accessible through said frame, at least two artificial vessels within said interior area and having separated edges to be sutured together, said at least two artificial vessels each having opposed ends secured to said frame, said at least two artificial vessels being disposed at different angles relative to each other within said frame. 
     
     
         2 . A suture training device including a three-dimensional frame defining an interior area, said interior area being accessible through said frame, an artificial vessel within said interior area and having separated edges to be sutured together, said artificial vessel having opposed ends secured to said frame, said opposed ends each having a central axis, said central axes being in a non-linear orientation to each other. 
     
     
         3 . The suture training device of  claim 1 , including three or more artificial vessels having separated edges to be sutured together, said three or more artificial vessels each having opposed ends secured to said frame and being disposed at different angles relative to each other within said frame. 
     
     
         4 . The suture training device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said artificial vessels including visible indicia adjacent the separated edges to be sutured together to identify locations through which a suturing needle desirably should be directed. 
     
     
         5 . The suture training device of  claim 4 , wherein said visible indicia includes dots spaced apart adjacent each separated edge. 
     
     
         6 . The suture training device of  claim 2 , wherein said artificial vessel includes visible indicia adjacent the separated edges to be sutured together to identify locations through which a suturing needle desirably should be directed. 
     
     
         7 . The suture training device of  claim 6 , wherein said visible indicia includes dots spaced apart adjacent each separated edge. 
     
     
         8 . The suture training device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least two artificial vessels have an elongate section in which separated edges to be connected are located, said separated edges of at least one of said artificial vessels extending substantially in the direction of elongation of said elongate section of said at least one of said artificial vessels. 
     
     
         9 . The suture training device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least two artificial vessels have an elongate section in which separated edges to be connected are located, said separated edges of at least one of said artificial vessels extending transverse to the direction of elongation of said elongate section. 
     
     
         10 . The suture training device of  claim 1 , wherein each of said artificial vessels includes an elongate section in which the separated edges to be sutured are located, said separated edges of all of said artificial vessels extending in the elongate direction of said elongate sections. 
     
     
         11 . The suture training device of  claim 1 , wherein each of said artificial vessels includes an elongate section in which the separated edges to be sutured are located, said separated edges of all of said artificial vessels extending transverse to the elongate direction of said elongate sections. 
     
     
         12 . The suture training device of  claim 1  being retained in a three dimensional compartment of a housing, said housing including a peripheral wall with a passage therethrough for providing access to the suture training device from a location outside of said compartment. 
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 10 , said housing including clear peripheral walls providing visibility of the training device therein. 
     
     
         14 . The suture training device of  claim 2  being retained in a three dimensional compartment of a housing, said housing including a peripheral wall with a passage therethrough for providing access to the suture training device from a location outside of said compartment. 
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 12 , said housing including clear peripheral walls providing visibility of the training device therein. 
     
     
         16 . A suture training device including a three-dimensional frame defining a three-dimensional interior area, said interior area being accessible through said frame, an artificial vessel within said interior area and having separated edges to be sutured together, said artificial vessel having opposed ends secured to said frame and having a three-dimensional orientation within said interior area. 
     
     
         17 . The suture training device of  claim 16 , including a at least two artificial vessels within said interior compartment having separated edges to be sutured together, said at least two artificial vessels having opposed ends secured to said frame, each of said at least two artificial vessels having a different, three-dimensional orientation within said interior compartment. 
     
     
         18 . The suture training device of  claim 16 , including a plurality of artificial vessels within said interior compartment having separated edges to be sutured together, said plurality of artificial vessels having opposed ends secured to said frame, each of said plurality of artificial vessels having a different, three-dimensional orientation within said interior compartment.